Newman: Daniel's Law may not be right for Queensland

Mark Furler is APN Australian Regional Media’s group digital editor. He’s an award-winning journalist who has lived and worked on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for more than 25 years. He’s passionate about fighting for a better go for locals. His awards include APN Editor of the Year, and involvement in three PANPA Newspaper of the Year wins for the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Speaking after completing the Walk for Daniel on the Sunshine Coast, Mr Newman said Queensland was watching moves by the Northern Territory government with interest.

But he said it was important that Queensland 'got it right' rather than rush into a public register of convicted sex offenders that only created more trouble.

Under Daniel's Law, which was announced earlier this month, convicted sex offenders will have their name, image, physical description and whereabouts posted on a government website.

Walk for Daniel 2014:
Footage from the 2014 Walk for Daniel on October 31, 2014.

Western Australia has an online sex register but access is more restricted to the public.

The NT website is not expected to list the actual addresses of convicted offenders but their 'regional whereabouts'.

In the US, under Megan's Law, offenders' exact addresses are listed.

Speaking to APN, Mr Newman said there had to be "a balance between the community's right to know about these people versus people taking the law into their own hands''.

On the Sunshine Coast, police have said there are hundreds of convicted sex offenders.

At the time Daniel Morcombe went missing, police immediately door-knocked known sexual offenders in the Palmwoods to Woombye area.

There were reports at the time there were about 75 registered offenders in those hinterland communities.

Those reports were never publicly confirmed by police at the time and media were asked not to report it amid fears it could jeopardise their investigation into Daniel's disappearance.

Hyperlapse of Walk for Daniel:
Hyperlapse footage of the Walk for Daniel 2014.

Mr Newman said one of the potential problems with the NT's laws is they could lead also to the identification of victims, if the offender was a family member or known to them.

"We have to protect victims as well from what's happened to them and their families.''

"So it is a bit more complex than what it seems at first instance.''

"But if there is a government that is prepared to have a go at this, after the Northern Territory government, I can assure you it's the Queensland Government,'' Mr Newman told APN.

Mr Newman said events like the Walk for Daniel and Day for Daniel activities across Australia were creating far greater awareness among children and parents of the need to be vigilant.

Wyatt Roy speaks for PM at Walk for Daniel:
MP Wyatt Roy has delivered a speech on behalf of Tony Abbott at the Walk for Daniel 2014.

"I think it is very much a protective measure.

"Just the message that comes through the program in the schools in Queensland and across Australia is making a huge, positive difference.

"It is sort of giving the kids an ability to protect themselves, that inbuilt self protection … and also making sure the community are aware as well when people are acting in an inappropriate or dodgy manner.'